Switch for meters.



H w; BROWN. SWITCH'FOR METERS. APPLICAUGN FILED JUNE 281 I911.

Patented Feb. 15,1916.

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WITNESSES: j INVENTOR m 1 BY H. W; BROWN.

SWITCH FOR METERS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1911.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHE ET 2.

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EIJMTED STATES PA HAROLD W. BROWN, WILKII INSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOFJ T0 VIESTINGHQUSE ELEGTEIG annmanuresrumne COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

' smrcza FOB. METERS.

o and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and, useful Improvement in Switches for Meters, of which the following is a specificetion- My invention relates to metering switches, and particularly to switches and connections therefor whereby an ammeter or other. suitable instrument may be associated, for-measuring purposes, with any phase of any one of a plurality of polyphase or other circuits.

.The object of my invention is to provide I switches and a system of electrical connections of the character and for the purpose indicated whereby the connections of an ammeter may be changed without interrupting the circuits in which it is adapted'to be interposed, and whereby the ammeter may be prevented, from 'becoming associated with more than one phase or circuit at atime.

Figure 1 of the-accompanying drawings diagrammatically illustrates a system embodyin my invention, and Figs; 2 and 3 similarly illustrate systems embodying modifications of the invention. a i

in the system of Fig. 1, a single ammeter 1 is employed in connection with a plurality of switches 2, 3, 4 and 5, each of which com prises two adjacent insulated movable conducting segments 6 and 7 ,the member 6 being provided with a stepped lateral projec- -tion ,8 that extends into a corresponding re--- ones in the member 7. The segments 6 and 7- are respectively engaged by stationary contact terminals 9 and 10, whereby continuous electrical connections are made thereto. When the switch occupies its normal position, which is that shown, the narrow end portion of the extension 8 is engagedby a contact terminal'll and the segment 7 is en gaged by two other contact terminals 12 and 13 that are interposed in the path of movement of the intermediate wider portion of the. extension and, as the segments are moved, may be engaged, either singly. or simultaneously, by the said extension. The shapes of the segments and the arrangement oi the terminal members are such that the terminal members ,12 and 13 cannotengage the segment 6 simultaneously with the terminal member 11, though they may all simultan'eously engage the segment 7.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' tension 8.

Patented Feb. 15,1916.

- Application filed June 28, 1911. Serial No. 635,808.

Corresponding to each of the switches 2, 3, 4 and 5 1s a polyphase electrical circuit 14-15-16, here shown either as three- ,phase three-wire circhits or two-phase three-- wire circuits,-thougli some of the circuits may be of one kind and some of the other.

In series with each of two conductors 14 and 16 of the said circuits, are the rimary windings of series transformers 1 and 18, ter-. minals of the corresponding secondary windings of which are respectively connected to the contact terminals 12 and 13, While the remaining terminals are all connected together and to the terminal members of each of the switches. The terminal member 9 of the switch 2 is connected to one terminal of the ammeter 1, and the terminal member 11 of the switch 5 is connected to the othei: terminal of the ammeter. The terminal members 9 of the switches 3, 1, and 5 are respectively connected to the terminal members 11 of the switches 2, 3 and 4.

In the normal positions of the switches, which are as shown, the ammeter is not associated with any of the circuits, but is included in a local closed circuit including the the segment extension 8, the meter will be included in a closed circuit with the secondary winding of the transformer 18, which circuit extends from one terminal of the taid 'winding, through terminal member 13, seat ment 6, terminal member 9, ammeter 1, terminal members 11 and 9 and segments 6 of each of switches 5, 4 and 3, and terminal member 11, segment 7 and terminal member 10 of'switch 2. v v

If it is desired to measure current of the phase having circuit relations with the transformer 17, the switch drum will be moved so that the terminal member 12 alone engages the segment extension 8, whereas, if it is desired to measure currenttraversing the conductor 15, both of the terminal members 12 and 13 will engage the segment ex- If, when the switch 2 occupies position other than its normal position, another of the switches 3, i or 5 should be moved from its normal or initial position, the ammeter will make measurements with reference only to the circuit associated With the switch In order that this may be clearly understood, assume that the terminal members 12 and 13 of each of the switches 2 and 3 engage the corresponding segment projections i, A circuit will then be established through the secondaries of the series transformers associated with the switch 2, segment 6 oil switch.. 2, the animeter 1., segment 6 of switches 5 and 4, segment 7 and terminal member of switch 8 to the common terminal of the secondary windings of the, said series transformers. The secondary wind ings in the circuit associated. with the switch 3 are not connected to the aminetcr, but will remain short-circuited through terminal members 12 and 13, segment 6 and terminal member 9 of switch 8, and terminal members 11 and 10 and segment 7 of switch 2.

The ammeter will, in each case Where two of the switches are operated simultaneously,

' make measurements only with reference to the circuit that is associated with the last switch to the left which does not occupy its initial position. Thus, it is seen that the meter can be associated with but one phase of one circuit at a time, and that. consequently, there is no danger overloading the meter or of confusing the phases or circuits of which it indicates the currents Also, that the secondary circuits of the se ries transformers are not open circnit d.

In the system of Fig. '2, the conducting segments of the switches are diilercntly shaped from those of the switches oi l, the lateral extension 20 of the segment '21, bf each switch being simply rectangular in form. The terminal members 22, 23, 24., 25; and 26 correspond respectively in function to the terminal members 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the switches of Fig. 1, the terminal. members 24: engaging the lateral segment eX- tensions 20 in the normal or initial positions of the switches, but being prevented, by reason of the arrangement of the parts, from engaging the same simultaneously with the terminal members 25 and 5367 The operation of the system of F 2 is similar to that of Fig. 1. The switches of l 2 are similar to those of a (o-pending application fiieo by me or even date herewith, Serial .llo. 635,907, differing therefrom only in that the terminal members 2st, 25 and 26 are some What differently spaced or in that the lateral projection 20 is of a iiiii'erent Width, the said projection being of such in Width. that it may not engage the terminal members 725 and. 26 simultanemisly with the terminal. member 24 but such that it may simnltane ously engage the terminal members and its initial position, the said segment plnral ti of switches like those set forth in the said conceding application may be electrically interlocked, thereby avoiding the necessity of providing a tingle movable handle fora plurality of switches, as de scribed in the said co-pending application, where-b" theswitches may be mechanically interlocked.

A still further modification of the switch is shown in Fig. 3, which the lateral projection 28 from one of the segments 29 is of such a width that it may engage but one of the stationary contact members at a time but may engage all of them in succession. In this case, terminals of the secondary windings 30 and 31 of the series trans: formers are respectively connected to contact members 32 and 33 and their common terminal is connected to another contact member 342, all of said contact members normally engaging the segment 35 and being interposed in the path of movement of the projection 28. Another contact member 36 that is also interv osed in the path of moiemeni; of the pro ection 28 and engages the same in the normal or initial position of the switch, is connected in each switch except the last to the right to a contact member 3? of thenext switch to the rip'ht which continuously engages the segment The contact member 3 of the last sir-itch to the right is connected to one terminal of the meter, and the contact member -37 of the last switch the left is connected to the other terminal. The operation of the system Fig. 3 is similar to those above described.

1 claim It. A

as my invention:

switch comprising; two conducting segments only having stepped adjacent edges, .means for making connections respectively with the said segments, and ten Ill) niiual niciiihers that may engage either of said se rients and certain, of which normolly engage one ofthe segments while another normally engagesthe other segment but in not engage it simultaneously with aforesaid members.

Q. The combination with an instrument, and a plurality circuits, of a plurality oi switches eiich which comprises conducting; sec; eats, a terminal member continuously engaging one of said segments, that of one snitch being" connected to-tlie instrument,,,anotherite minal member that may engage either Gfwtllc segments, that of one switch being; connected to the instrument While those of the other switches are orally connected to the aforesaid tern 7 of the remaining switches, anoth; member that nnously the c terminal i r amass? that may engage either segment, the said members being associated by connection with the said circuits.

3. A switch comprising conducting segment having stepped adjacent edges, means for making connections respectively With the said segments, a terminal member norally engaging the narrowest portion of the stepped extension of one of the segments and interposed in the path of movementthercof. other terminal members interposed in the path of movement of a wider portion of the said stepped extension but normally engaqing the other segment.

4. The combination with an ammeter, and i a. plurality of polyphase circuits, of a plurality of switches each of which comprises two conducting segments having stepped adjacent edges and terminal members, some of which continuously engage the respective segments and others of which may engage either of them, and connections between the switches whereby the meter, may not be simultaneously associated with phases of different circuits.

5. The combination with an instrument,

and a plurality of circuits, of a plurality of switches each of which comprises conducting segments and terminal members, some of which continuously engage the respective segments and others of which may engage either of them, and connections hetween the terminal members normally engaging corresponding segments of different switches.

6; The combination with an instrument, and a plurality of circuits, of a plurality of switches each of which comprises conducting segments and terminal members, some bers that normally enga 'e the correspondf ing segments of other switches.

8. The combination with an instrument, and a. plurality of circuits, of a plurality of switches each of which comprises conductin se ments and terminal members some of said members being adapted to continuously engage the respective segments and others being adapted to engage 'either of them, and connections between the switches for respectively extending from terminal members that continuously engage segments thereot to terminal members of other switches ma enna e either of the se merits thereof.

in testimony whereof, l have hereunto suhscrihecl my name this 21st day of June, 1911.

HAROLD "is". BR fYW Witnesses:

E. EDEN, l3. B. .rlmns. 

